On May 3, 1971, at 5 p.m., All Things Considered debuted on 90 public radio stations.
In the more than four decades since, almost everything about the program has changed, from the hosts, producers, editors and reporters to the length of the program, the equipment used and even the audience.
However there is one thing that remains the same: each show consists of the biggest stories of the day, thoughtful commentaries, insightful features on the quirky and the mainstream in arts and life, music and entertainment, all brought alive through sound.
All Things Considered is the most listened-to, afternoon drive-time, news radio program in the country. Every weekday the two-hour show is hosted by Ailsa Chang, Mary Louise Kelly and Ari Shapiro. In 1977, ATC expanded to seven days a week with a one-hour show on Saturdays and Sundays, which is hosted by Michel Martin.
During each broadcast, stories and reports come to listeners from NPR reporters and correspondents based throughout the United States and the world. The hosts interview newsmakers and contribute their own reporting. Rounding out the mix are the disparate voices of a variety of commentators.
All Things Considered has earned many of journalism's highest honors, including the George Foster Peabody Award, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and the Overseas Press Club Award.
>> Visit the program's website for episode information.
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As Don Gonyea covered the launch of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago this week, he recalled key moments from presidential library openings he has covered throughout his career.
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Why do some butterflies live for months while others survive only weeks? Tufts University researcher Jessica Foley explains what Heliconius butterflies can teach us about aging.
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For some it's a symbol of identity. For others, a challenge to the state. NPR's Itay Stern reports on the debate over the Palestinian flag in Israel.
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A flu outbreak at a Texas Air Force Base is fueling debate over the Pentagon's decision to end the military's flu vaccine mandate. Former military health official Jose Sanchez explains the stakes.
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For many Ismaili Muslims, seeing the Aga Khan is a once-in-a-lifetime event. NPR's Betsy Joles reports from his visit to remote northern Pakistan.
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George Floyd's murder put Minneapolis in the spotlight. Justin Ellis' new book, 'The Cruelty of Nice Folks: Why Minneapolis is the Story of America,' says the city embodies a contradiction - liberal ideals alongside deep racial disparities.
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A scholar studying ancient texts says Achilles' famous weak spot may not have been his heel. The answer lies in translation and anatomy.
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The hosts of the podcast 'When the World Comes to Texas,' Miranda Suarez and Ron Corning, talk about what they learned about Texas while reporting on the World Cup in their state.
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Iran says it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again. The U.S. military says traffic is still flowing. NPR's Jane Arraf reports from Beirut.
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The United States defeated Australia in an important group match at the World Cup. The 2-0 victory means the U.S. will advance to the tournament's knockout round.